Black History Month serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so in what ways can we modernize it?
It's Black History Month in the UK, and it feels like it’s time for a reassessment. Over the years, an observance that was initiated as a commemorative event of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has taken on a commercial tone, expanding to include gatherings where African descendants are remunerated to talk to white audiences about implicit prejudice and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the industry of showcasing anti-racist commitment. But even that moment has passed. The wave has crested, leaving a sort of hollowed out legacy of what raising awareness is for.
The History of Black History Celebration
Initially celebrated in the United States and Canada, Black History Month was established in 1962 as “Negro History Week” by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of commemoration and observance in the second week of February. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was formally inaugurated in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in winter, but also in autumn in the Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany, Éire and the Holland.
The observance has transformed since its inception, giving reduced attention to the accounts of colonial slavery and civil rights battles, and increasingly on prominent Black figures in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and widely honoring the impact Black people have made to mold society. It is in learning environments where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with lectures and artistic activities. But the manner the observance is commemorated is a reflection of the contemporary political context. How it evolves is a valuable example in how co-option leads to dismantling: the restructuring of Black History Month has hindered the point of it, which is to confront embedded and established prejudice.
A Disconcerting Period
Little demonstrates how important it is to reevaluate Black History Month more than the current time in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a revitalized conservative movement in the shape of the Reform political group is ahead in surveys. In the recent season we witnessed the largest far-right rally in the history of Britain. the Conservative leader, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a strong critic of anti-racism activism, and we are in a position where a member of parliament gains confidence to state that the absence of Caucasian individuals in certain urban areas is a source of worry. Meanwhile, extreme conservative groups are expanding in Europe as a whole.
In the United States, a massive attack against DEI and affirmative action has been brought, often successfully, to the top legal institutions of the nation. A drive to remove Black history and narrative from the records is under way. One of the former president's first executive orders focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to rewrite our Nation’s history” by depicting the United States “as naturally discriminatory”.
Given these circumstances, the celebration illustrates how insufficiently it can be influential if it is limited to either obligatory business commemorations, or politically neutered celebrations of contributions in the past, rather than confronting the situation of the present. It also reveals how its limited duration means that it is separated from the wider consistent effort that is needed. An academic expert, a prof at University of Greenwich, put it best when she raised concerns about the temporary “tokenism” of the observance. “The issue with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month evolves into a brief show rather than a agent of progress.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Figuring out how to adjust, modify and expand actions for fair treatment and appreciation in such times of discouragement and concern is a challenging endeavor. There is a temptation to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month entirely, believing they are inadequate for current needs, or are remnants of an era that has been ineffective.
However, regardless of the situation, Black History Month, and in fact the complete comprehensive structure and heritage of activism for racial justice – local anti-racism groups, DEI programs, and yes, even those talks to businesses – represent an framework that a considerable labor has been dedicated to. It is there not just to decay as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, regresses), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month seem? To begin with, it would be not just one concentrated month: something that is spread out across all seasons (as certain organizations are already commencing), sections of its curriculum (particularly around historic Black characters) incorporated into academic syllabi. It would also be a time that does not avoid governmental matters, and leaves space for individuals, particularly youth, to express their concerns and stories. What use is basic knowledge of the past when it fails to address the contemporary truth of far-right rallies in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be pacified with the non-confrontational words of implicit prejudice and alertness to “microaggressions”, but confronted with the dangers that affect everyone if anti-racism is not approached earnestly. In short, Black History Month should be made current, urgent, and adaptive. Maybe an complete renaming is necessary – Black History is Now Month.
